More than a handful of the preliminary Columbia River salmon forecasts have already been released, and it appears that anglers should be happy with what they'll find next spring, summer and fall.
"After an analysis of the early forecast I'd say there is more good news than bad, and folks can look for improved chinook opportunities off our coast," said Tony Floor, director of fishing affairs for the Northwest Marine Trade Association. "I'm not suggesting a bonanza of fish, but an improved population of chinook will be coming our way."
According to state Fish and Wildlife, the total adult fall chinook return to the Columbia River in 2009 was forecast to be 532,900. This year's fall chinook jack returns were high (some stocks had record returns), which should lead to larger returns of adult chinook next summer.
The 2010 Upper Columbia River summer chinook forecast is 88,800.
The Lower Columbia River hatchery chinook stock in 2010 should be an improvement over the past five years. The 2009 return was slightly less than predicted, but the jack return was one of the largest since the mid-1980s.
The Lower Columbia River wild chinook stock in 2010 should be similar to the past few years, but still below average. The 2009 return was similar to predicted.
The Bonneville Pool hatchery chinook stock in 2010 should see an improvement compared to the past few years. The 2009 return was similar to predicted, but it included the largest jack return in the database by a factor of two.
The Columbia River upriver bright (URB) chinook stock in 2010 should be similar to recent years. The 2009 return was less than predicted, but had the largest return of jacks since the mid-1980s.
The mid-Columbia bright chinook stock in 2010 should be above average. The 2009 return was as predicted, and it had the largest jack return on record.
The total Columbia River fall chinook 2010 return likely will be greater than 2009 due to high jack returns. In 2009 the return was less than the prediction, primarily due to fewer URBs.
It is still unclear what to expect for Columbia River summer coho next year, but the returns in 2009 were slightly less than the predicted count of 703,100 adult coho. The early outlook points to fishing seasons similar to the returns in 2005 (339,000) and 2006 (386,000).
The Columbia River sockeye forecast is 124,600 (14,300 back to the Wenatchee, 110,300 to the Okanogan).
The Snake River return was unavailable.
The bright spot in 2010 could be the Columbia River upriver spring chinook forecast of 470,000.
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Chinook season looks strong for 2012
Chinook season looks strong for 2012
It's only a matter of time before the first migrating spring chinook is hooked by a lucky angler in the Lower Columbia River.
We already know this fish will be among a strong forecast of 414,500, which could lead to the fourth-largest return of upriver spring chinook on record.
Fishing is open daily from Buoy 10 in the Lower Columbia up to I-5. The fishery expands upriver to Beacon Rock from March 1 to April 6 (closed March 20, March 27 and April 3), and possibly longer depending in the catch rate.
Outdoors briefs: Audubon's Bateman Island walk on Saturday
Outdoors briefs: Audubon's Bateman Island walk on Saturday
RICHLAND -- Join members of the Lower Columbia Basin Audubon Society (LCBAS) for the monthly bird walk 8 a.m. Saturday at Bateman Island .
Interested folks should meet at Wye Park above the causeway to Bateman Island.
All are welcome.
Area tribes begin annual fish sales
Area tribes begin annual fish sales
The Nez Perce, Umatilla, Warm Springs and Yakama tribes have begun their annual fish gill-netting and fish sales program at several locations along the Columbia River.
Salmon, steelhead and coho are available from tribal fishers now, but the chinook run should peak in the tribal fishing areas about the second week of September.
The large run of salmon and steelhead should result in ongoing sales of Columbia River fish for the next several weeks.
Chinook salmon fishery opens near Chelan
Chinook salmon fishery opens near Chelan
OLYMPIA -- The state Department of Fish and Wildlife will test whether anglers can successfully catch summer chinook salmon in the tailrace of the Chelan County PUD's hydroelectric powerhouse in Chelan.
The new fishery is scheduled to run through Oct. 15.
"This opening will test whether we can conduct a fishery in such a small area," Jeff Korth, regional fish manager for the WDFW, said in a news release Friday. "Starting this year, a lot of hatchery-reared fish will be moving through the tailrace, and we'd like to give anglers a chance to catch some."
Commission calls for early end to sturgeon gillnet season
Commission calls for early end to sturgeon gillnet season
The Coastal Conservation Association is calling for an end to the winter sturgeon gillnet season in the lower Columbia River to reduce handling of the dwindling population.
"It is an unneeded season on fish that are in serious trouble,'' said Bruce Polley, CCA Oregon government relations committee chairman. "Because this season is unnecessary to access the commercial quota, it results in an increase in discarded sturgeon in fall salmon/sturgeon gillnet fisheries.''
Historically, the winter sturgeon season has been in January and early to mid-February.
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